A Minneapolis man convicted in April of sexually assaulting his massage client pleaded guilty Wednesday in three other cases where female clients said he touched their genitals or manipulated their arms so that they touched his.
Brandon L. Palmer, 32, was originally charged in seven separate cases for assaults that occurred while he worked as a massage therapist in Roseville. He pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court in three cases to three felony counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Three counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct were dismissed.
As part of the plea agreement, three other cases against Palmer were dismissed.
Jurors convicted Palmer in April of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Ramsey County attorney's office spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein said all of the women in the six cases addressed Wednesday approved of the plea deal.
"The goal here is to get some resolution for the victims," he said. "The prospect of having them go back again and again for a trial was something we wanted to avoid, and they did as well."
The women testified at trial that Palmer sexually assaulted them while they were completely or nearly nude on his massage table.
Pending the results of a presentence investigation, Palmer could face 10 years of probation. His plea agreement also requires him to register as a sex offender, undergo sex offender treatment and abstain from working as a massage therapist during probation.
